Nail dyeing method and apparatus thereof

ABSTRACT

In one aspect, the present intention is directed to a nail-surrounding dyeing apparatus ( 100 ), comprising: a container ( 16 ) of peel-able material ( 20 ); a nozzle ( 10 ) for dispensing the peel-able material; the nozzle ( 10 ) having a sloped surface ( 38 ) at the end thereof, an outlet ( 14 ) disposed at the sloped surface ( 38 ); wherein a tip ( 12 ) of the nozzle ( 10 ) is flexible; thereby allowing dyeing a strap ( 24 ) of the peel-able material on a skin ( 32 ) that surrounds a nail ( 26 ), for allowing dyeing the nail ( 26 ) beyond a border line ( 22 ) between the nail ( 26 ) and the skin ( 32 ) and removing thereof afterwards.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to the field of nail dyeing.

BACKGROUND ART

Nail dyeing is commonly carried out by dyeing several layers, including layers for protecting the nail, layers for providing a desired color and hue to the nail, etc. During the dyeing process, the nail may be dried, e.g., by using ultraviolet light irradiation on the nails.

One of the problems of nails dyeing is avoiding dyeing the skin surrounding a nail. This problem is most acute when a user paints her own nails with the weak hand (the left hands of the right-handed, and the right hands of lefties). Therefore, even skilled nail dyeing users experience difficulty painting their own nails.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a solution to the above-mentioned and other problems of the prior art.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect, the present intention is directed to a nail-surrounding dyeing apparatus (100), comprising:

-   -   a container (16) of peel-able material (20);     -   a nozzle (10) for dispensing the peel-able material;     -   the nozzle (10) having a sloped surface (38) at the end thereof;     -   an outlet (14) disposed at the sloped surface (38);     -   wherein a tip (12) of the nozzle (10) is flexible; thereby         allowing dyeing a strap (24) of the peel-able material on a skin         (32) that surrounds a nail (26), for allowing dyeing the nail         (26) beyond a border line (22) between the nail (26) and the         skin (32) and removing thereof afterwards.

Preferably, the outlet is disposed between 0.5 to 3 mm from the tip (12).

The width of the nozzle is preferably between about 2 to 4 mm.

The tip may be convex, concave, in the form of a straight line, and so on.

The outlet may be parallel, perpendicular or diagonal to the symmetry axis (36) of the apparatus (100), and so on.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the outlet is bent.

The apparatus may further comprise a roller disposed in its outlet.

In another aspect, the present invention is directed to a nail dyeing method comprising the steps of

-   -   dyeing a strap (24) of peel-able material on a skin (32)         surrounding a nail (26), the dyeing is carried out using a         dispenser (100) of the peel-able material having a flexible tip         (12), and an outlet (14) disposed on one side of the flexible         tip, for preventing leaking of a dispensed material therefrom to         the nail;     -   dyeing the nail with a desired color and huge, layers, and so         on; and     -   removing the peel-able material (24),

resulting in a smooth edge paint on the nail even if the paint has been on the skin (32).

The reference numbers have been used to point out elements in the embodiments described and illustrated herein, in order to facilitate the understanding of the invention. They are meant to be merely illustrative, and not limiting. Also, the foregoing embodiments of the invention have been described and illustrated in conjunction with systems and methods thereof, which are meant to be merely illustrative, and not limiting.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Preferred embodiments, features, aspects and advantages of the present invention are described herein in conjunction with the following drawings:

FIG. 1a is a side view of a nail-surrounding dyeing apparatus, according to one embodiment of the invention. FIG. 1b is a front view thereof.

FIG. 2 is a front view of a nail-surrounding dyeing apparatus 100, according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3a schematically illustrates a finger, on which are marked the parts that are significant to the present invention.

FIG. 3b schematically illustrates a process of dyeing a strap around a nail, according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 pictorially illustrates a hand 40 of a user holding an apparatus 100 and approaching to the other hand 30 of the user, for dyeing a strap of peel-able material around a nail 26.

FIG. 5 pictorially illustrates steps of a nail dyeing method, according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6 schematically illustrates several examples of apparatus 100, according to embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 7 schematically illustrates additional examples of apparatus 100, according to embodiments of the present invention.

FIGS. 8a, 8b and 8c schematically illustrate an additional example of apparatus 100, according to embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 9 schematically illustrates additional examples of apparatus 100, according to further embodiments of the present invention.

It should be understood that the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

The present invention will be understood from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments (“best mode”), which are meant to be descriptive and not limiting. For the sake of brevity, some well-known features, methods, systems, procedures, components, circuits, and so on, are not described in detail.

FIG. 1a is a side view of a nail-surrounding dyeing apparatus, according to one embodiment of the invention. FIG. 1b is a front view thereof.

The apparatus is marked herein by reference numeral 100. The apparatus is in the form of a paste dispenser having a tubular container 16, in which the nozzle 10 thereof ends with a sloped surface 38. The outlet 14 of nozzle 10 is disposed at the sloped surface 38 of the nozzle, near the tip thereof 12. The width 34 of the nozzle 10 is between about 2 to 4 mm.

Preferably, the tip 12 is flexible, in order to deform thereof to the form of the nail upon touching the nail. Actually, the entire nozzle can be made of flexible material, but since the nozzle's end is thinner than the rest of the nozzle, the flexibility is reflected only at the tip thereof. The flexible material may be rubber, silicon, and so on. Of course, other engineering techniques can be used for obtaining the flexibility at the tip.

The zoomed area details the form of the sloped surface. As illustrated, the sloped surface is convex.

FIG. 2 is a front view of a nail-surrounding dyeing apparatus 100, according to one embodiment of the invention.

The zoomed view is of a cross-section of the zoomed window.

The figure illustrates the outlet 14 of the paste 20. The outlet is disposed at the lower side of the nozzle 10, near the tip 12 of the nozzle.

As mentioned above, preferably the tip 12 of nozzle 10 is made of flexible material such as rubber or silicon, in order to allow deforming the form of the tip to the form of the nail at the touched line, thereby preventing the dispensed material from passing over the tip to the other side of the nozzle.

FIG. 3a schematically illustrates a finger, on which are marked the parts that are significant to the present invention.

The finger is marked by reference numeral 18. The nail is marked by reference numeral 26, and the skin surrounding the nail is marked by reference numeral 32. The border line between the nail and the skin surrounding the nail is marked by reference numeral 22.

FIG. 3b schematically illustrates a process of dyeing a strap on the surrounding of a nail, according to one embodiment of the invention.

The dyed material is a peel-able, and the apparatus used for the dyeing is a nail-surrounding dyeing apparatus such as that illustrated in FIGS. 1a, 1b and 2. The dashed line represents the inner borders of the paste container. The peel-able material 20 is illustrated by the dotted area.

The peel-able material 20 is hardened after being dispensed from the apparatus 100. The hardening rate can be adjusted by changing the composition of the peel-able material 20.

The operation of dispensing the peel-able material 20 is carried out in such a way that the user moves the tip 12 of nozzle 10 along the border line 22, while pressing the tube 16 in order to push the content out of the tube through outlet 14. The strap generated from the dispensed paste is marked by reference numeral 24. During the moving operation, the nozzle must be situated such that the outlet 14 turns towards the skin 32. If the tip 12 of the nozzle is flexible, the dispensed paste does not leak onto the nail, but rather remains on the skin.

As there is a “step” between the nail and the skin surrounding the nail, the user may use the step in order to move the tip of the nozzle along the step.

As the outlet 14 of the dispenser is near the tip 12 of the nozzle thereof, and as the nozzle in the outlet region is sloped, the dispensed paste 24 fills the niche generated between the sloped side of the nozzle and the skin. Thus, the user may control the width of the generated layer 24.

The result of the process is a peel-able strap on the skin surrounding the nail. Thus, when dyeing the nail even with the weak hand, the user may paint beyond the borders of the nail, since afterwards he removes the strap, leaving a smooth edge of the painted nail.

FIG. 4 pictorially illustrates a hand 40 of a user holding an apparatus 100 and approaching the other hand 30 of the user, for dyeing a strap of peel-able material around a nail 26.

FIG. 5 pictorially illustrates steps of a nail dyeing method, according to one embodiment of the invention.

At step 1 the user paints a strap 24 of peel-able material 24 on the skin surrounding the nail, using the apparatus 100 described and illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 b.

As illustrated in the figure, the operation of dispensing the paste 20 is carried out in such a way that the user moves the tip 12 of nozzle 10 along the border line 22 between the nail and the skin surrounding the nail, while pressing the tube 16 in order to push the paste (i.e., the peel-able material) out of the tube through outlet 14 (the strap generated from the dispensed paste is marked by reference numeral 24). During the moving operation, the nozzle must be situated by the user such that the outlet of the apparatus turns towards the skin. If the tip 12 of the nozzle is flexible, the dispensed paste is dispensed on the kin, and does not leak onto the nail.

At step 2 the nails are painted in a common way of nail dyeing, using nail paint brush 42 and paint 28.

At step 3, after the peel-able strap 24 and the nail paint 28 dry, the user removes the peel-able strap 24.

As a result, paint 28 does not exceed the nail borders 22 to the skin surrounding the nail.

FIG. 6 schematically illustrates several examples of apparatus 100, according to embodiments of the present invention.

The nozzle 10 of each apparatus differs from the others by the form of its edge. In Example 1, tip 12 is convex; in Example 2, the tip is in the form of a straight line; and in Example 3, the tip is concave.

In Example 2, the sloped edge is concave.

In these examples, the tip of each of the dispensers is perpendicular to the symmetry axis 36 of the apparatus 100.

FIG. 7 schematically illustrates additional examples of apparatus 100, according to embodiments of the present invention.

In these examples the tip of each of the dispensers is parallel to the symmetry axis 36 of apparatus 100 (seen in FIG. 5), and located in a different location of the sloped surface.

FIGS. 8a, 8b and 8c schematically illustrate an additional example of apparatus 100, according to embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 8a is a perspective view; FIG. 8b is a front view, and FIG. 8c is a side view of EXAMPLE 7 of apparatus 100.

In this example, nozzle 10 is bent. Some people may prefer this embodiment of the invention, as it better suit their physical characteristics.

FIG. 9 schematically illustrates additional examples of apparatus 100, according to further embodiments of the present invention.

According to this embodiment of the invention, a roller 44 is disposed in the outlet of nozzle 10. Some people may prefer to roll the dispenser rather than drag it, as the friction of a roller is less than that of a static tip.

Preferably, the roller has a trapeze contour (when viewed from its side), thereby providing a tip to be guided by the border line between the nail and the skin.

The dispenser may use a nozzle cover, for keeping the nozzle closed while the dispenser is not in use, thereby preventing the peel-able material from drying.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the apparatus 100 may be distributed as a kit having a plurality of nozzles, each of a different form. In this way, each user may use his preferred nozzle's form.

In the examples herein, the paste dispenser is portable, however, it should be noted that the dispenser may be designed as a non-portable container having a pump and a flexible tube through which the peel-able material is dispensed.

In the figures and/or description herein, the following reference numerals (Reference Signs List) have been mentioned:

-   -   numeral 100 denotes a nail-surrounding dyeing apparatus in the         form of a portable tubular paste dispenser, according to one         embodiment of the invention;     -   numeral 10 denotes a nozzle of the dispenser;     -   numeral 12 denotes a tip of nozzle 10;     -   numeral 14 denotes an outlet of the dispenser;     -   numeral 16 is the container of the tubular paste dispenser;     -   numeral 18 denotes a finger;     -   numeral 20 denotes peel-able material (also referred to as CC         paste;     -   numeral 22 denotes a border line between the nail and the skin         surrounding the nail;     -   numeral 24 denotes a strap generated from the dispensed paste;     -   numeral 26 denotes a nail;     -   numeral 28 denotes nail dyeing paint;     -   numeral 30 denotes a hand, the nails of which are being painted;     -   numeral 32 denotes a skin surrounding a nail;     -   numeral 34 denotes the width of nozzle 10;     -   numeral 36 denotes a symmetry axis of apparatus 100;     -   numeral 38 denotes a sloped surface of the end of nozzle 10;     -   numeral 40 denotes a paining hand;     -   numeral 42 denotes a nail dyeing paint brush; and     -   numeral 44 denotes a roller.

The foregoing description and illustrations of the embodiments of the invention has been presented for the purposes of illustration. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the above description in any form.

Any term that has been defined above and used in the claims, should to be interpreted according to this definition.

The reference numbers in the claims are not a part of the claims, but rather used for facilitating the reading thereof. These reference numbers should not be interpreted as limiting the claims in any form. 

1. A nail-surrounding dyeing apparatus (100), comprising: a container (16) of peel-able material (20); a nozzle (10) for dispensing said peel-able material; said nozzle (10) having a sloped surface (38) at the end thereof, an outlet (14) disposed at said sloped surface (38); wherein a tip (12) of said nozzle (10) is flexible; thereby allowing dyeing a strap (24) of said peel-able material on a skin (32) that surrounds a nail (26), for allowing dyeing said nail (26) beyond a border line (22) between said nail (26) and said skin (32) and removing thereof afterwards.
 2. An apparatus (100) according to claim 1, wherein said outlet is disposed between 0.5 to 3 mm from said tip (12).
 3. An apparatus (100) according to claim 1, wherein a width of said nozzle is between 1.8 to 4.2 mm.
 4. An apparatus (100) according to claim 1, wherein said tip is convex.
 5. An apparatus (100) according to claim 1, wherein said tip is concave.
 6. An apparatus (100) according to claim 1, wherein said tip is in the form of a straight line.
 7. An apparatus (100) according to claim 1, wherein said outlet is parallel to a symmetry axis (36) of said apparatus.
 8. An apparatus (100) according to claim 1, wherein said outlet is perpendicular to a symmetry axis (36) of said apparatus.
 9. An apparatus (100) according to claim 1, wherein said outlet is diagonal to a symmetry axis (36) of said apparatus.
 10. An apparatus (100) according to claim 1, wherein said outlet is bent.
 11. An apparatus (100) according to claim 1, further comprising a roller disposed in said outlet.
 12. A nail dyeing method comprising the steps of dyeing a strap (24) of peel-able material on a skin (32) surrounding a nail (26), said dyeing being carried out using a dispenser (100) of said peel-able material having a flexible tip (12), and an outlet (14) disposed on one side of said flexible tip, for preventing leaking of a dispensed material therefrom to said nail; dyeing said nail with paint in a desired color and hue; and removing said peel-able material (24), resulting in a smooth edged paint on said nail even if said painting has been on said skin (32). 